Labor issues decided by popular vote - unrealistic.
TiB - I think it's 5%. But, the private sector is far from perfect. What about those poor souls in the private sector whose employers gave golden parachutes to senior execs, then told the employees the pension they worked their whole life was gone. Stop holding up the private sector as if it is the gold standard for labor management relations, because the private sector has plenty of flaws.
You do not need a control board. You need a change to the way in which public sector labor issues are resolved. And, if I owned the City as a business, I would implement a City Manager form of government and start looking for an executive management team who were experts in these areas in which they had to make decisions (e.g., human resources, finances, long term economic forecasting).
Control Board, another example of crisis management.
You do not need a control board. You need a change to the way in which public sector labor issues are resolved.
This is VERY easy to solve. Eliminate public sector unions, problems solved.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Labor issues decided by popular vote - unrealistic.
TiB - I think it's 5%. But, the private sector is far from perfect. What about those poor souls in the private sector whose employers gave golden parachutes to senior execs, then told the employees the pension they worked their whole life was gone. Stop holding up the private sector as if it is the gold standard for labor management relations, because the private sector has plenty of flaws.
You do not need a control board. You need a change to the way in which public sector labor issues are resolved. And, if I owned the City as a business, I would implement a City Manager form of government and start looking for an executive management team who were experts in these areas in which they had to make decisions (e.g., human resources, finances, long term economic forecasting).
Control Board, another example of crisis management.
the politicians need to stop with the future payouts onto the backs of our posterity...there is no crystal ball saying that future generations/systems/values will remain constant to afford the retirees....and their families...because those negotiating the contracts like to 'put it off' onto the back of the next politician that gets voted in....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
The city will eventually need to declare bankruptcy.
I really see no way around it with rising costs, and no one moving here for the great schools or low crime, or beautiful neighborhoods.
Taxes will rise, more people just abandon, taxes get worse for those remaining. I don't see any way to avoid this vicious, escalating cycle.
You are correct, the time is rapidly approaching when tax revenues will not cover commitments already in place.
The damage has already been done. As each homeowner leaves Schenectady, they will get whatever they can from their properties here and many will just draw as much rent from them as possible before the city takes ownership of them. The tax revenue drops as soon as the taxes stop being paid, not after they draw 3 years or more of rent from the property. You can't just reevaluate the value of all the homes again, hiding the drop in revenues in the process. They have tried every trick in the book to hide it, but money coming in will soon not cover the money already spent. Plus the interest on that money. If the city takes back 1,000 homes this year, 2013, how many years until the remaining homeowners can no longer cover the cost of the money already promised out? 5 years from now the city may find itself taking back 5,000 homes.
The money has already been spent. Unless revenues can be increased without raising taxes on the homeowners, the cycle will continue and the end is inevitable.
The Metroplex loan system: I might pay you someday for a big taxpayer funded, property tax exempt loan today.
I'm sorry, we only give out package deals at this time. If you would like tax exemption for 10 years, a $200,000 zero interest loan and a $200,000 grant, then we could help you.
Like Jack Bauer said, the City will eventually need to declare bankruptcy if we keep going further and further into the blackhole.
The police get their raises this year?!?!? Has ANYONE in this City ever hear of the word 'moratorium'...yeah, it comes in quite handy during times of fiscal desperation!!!!!
Labor issues decided by popular vote - unrealistic.
TiB - I think it's 5%. But, the private sector is far from perfect. What about those poor souls in the private sector whose employers gave golden parachutes to senior execs, then told the employees the pension they worked their whole life was gone. Stop holding up the private sector as if it is the gold standard for labor management relations, because the private sector has plenty of flaws.
You do not need a control board. You need a change to the way in which public sector labor issues are resolved. And, if I owned the City as a business, I would implement a City Manager form of government and start looking for an executive management team who were experts in these areas in which they had to make decisions (e.g., human resources, finances, long term economic forecasting).
Control Board, another example of crisis management.
visitor. Do you feel that paying only 5% for these benefits is reasonable, for a public or private organization? Dont you also get almost healthcare paid for life?
You say a Control Board is not needed but do not present any other reasonable, viable or possible options. How do you suppose we get to a City Manager form of government in Schenectady.
In the end, something will need to be done. The weight of the expenses of the emloyee wages, healthcare and retirement benefits will crush this City. It is only a matter of time. Unfortunatley we dont have the luxury of printing more money and or cloning more taxpayers.
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
TIP TO NEW VISITORS TO THIS FORUM - To improve your blogging pleasure it is recommended to ignore (Through editing your prefere) the posts of the following bloggers - DemocraticVoiceofReason, Scotsgod08 and Smoking Bananas. They continually go off topic, do not provide facts and make irrational remarks. If you do not believe me, this can be proven by their reputation scores or by a sampling of their posts.
Paying only 5% is indeed a great benefit. That percentage will undoubtedly increase; however, I think there needs to be a concerted effort to find ways to get cheaper plans. It costs between $15k and $20k for a family plan, yet most of the employees rarely use that amount of service. I think that ultimately you will see the public sector follow the trend of the private sector and go to the high deductible plans.
City Manager - not sure how that would happen - petition grass roots movement. And, that's only as good as the selection process and the pols leaving the CM alone to do what is necessary.
With the new pension plans - pension costs will decrease. Health insurance is the next big thing to address.
Paying only 5% is indeed a great benefit. That percentage will undoubtedly increase; however, I think there needs to be a concerted effort to find ways to get cheaper plans. It costs between $15k and $20k for a family plan, yet most of the employees rarely use that amount of service. I think that ultimately you will see the public sector follow the trend of the private sector and go to the high deductible plans.
City Manager - not sure how that would happen - petition grass roots movement. And, that's only as good as the selection process and the pols leaving the CM alone to do what is necessary.
With the new pension plans - pension costs will decrease. Health insurance is the next big thing to address.
the healthcare costs are now a strawman topic....national healthcare will remove the choice from our hands,,,just like SS and medicare/medicaid....it will be swallowed up...as for the pension/retirement bennies and the COLA's it's pandoras box...
something the elected like to hand over generation to generation each time muzzling the posterity
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
the healthcare costs are now a strawman topic....national healthcare will remove the choice from our hands,,,just like SS and medicare/medicaid....it will be swallowed up...as for the pension/retirement bennies and the COLA's it's pandoras box...
something the elected like to hand over generation to generation each time muzzling the posterity
Interesting that Visitor would bring up pension and retirement cost. According to Kilcullens new 'hot spot' video, 20 police officers recently retired (leaving a void on the force). Too bad that 'void' will be costing the taxpayers WAY more than an actual cop on the beat.
No discredit to those officers who worked for all those years, but how many worked mega-overtime there last year to increase their pensions? Any of these folks retired?
Schenectady's top earners in 2012
Name//Job Title//Salary//Gross
Mark McCracken //Police lieutenant//$81,671//$171,423
Michael Seber //Assistant police chief//$126,292//$152,884
Mark Chaires//Police chief//$130,042//$151,874
Eric Clifford//Police lieutenant//$81,671//$150,636
Jack Falvo//Assistant police chief//$126,292//$150,515
The control board will just be a 'complaint board' just like all other government agencies have for the public to think something is going to change, when in fact it's just a sounding therapy board so the public thinks it was 'herd' heard....
the conversation about the cost is almost a moot point....we pay our captors well....they provide the abundance or the lack of straw, depending on their vacation/travel needs and costs.....
remember Spartacus?
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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